Temples of Kumbhariya

Author(s): M A Dhaky, U S Moorty
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 61

Jainism in Gujarat
Anupama-sarovara, both on Mt. Satruñjaya; also the Kalyāṇatraya temple on Mt. Girnār, Temple of Ujjayantāvatāra at Dholakā, the Nandīśvara fane (in this case 52 Jinālayas) in Karṇāvati temple of Ādinātha at Prabhāsa (c. A.D. 1234) as also the Jaina temples at Pāvāgadh and Godhrā, and his surviving temple, the world famous Luņa-vasahī temple on Mt. Abu. As for the literary activities of the age, Vastupāla wrote the Naranārāyaṇānanda-kāvya and some hymns in Sanskrit referring to Jina Rşabha of Satruñjaya and Jina Aristanemi as well as the śāsanadevī Ambikā of Ujjayantagiri. His preceptor Vijayasena sūri of Nāgendra-gaccha composed Revantagiri-rāsa in Apabhraíba/old Gujarāti and Pralhādanaputra wrote Ābu-rāsa in Apabhraíśa, both works are important from historical viewpoint as well. Vijayasena sūri's disciple Udayaprabha sūri composed the Dharmābhyudaya-kāvya, the Sukstakīrttikallolinī, the play Karuņā-vajrāyudha, an astrological work the Arambhasiddhi, and several commentaries on different works.
There were poets who wrote on Vastupāla, eulogizing his deeds. Someśvara wrote the Kirttīkaumudi; Thakkura Arisimha composed the Sukstasamkirtana; Bālacandra the Vasantavilāsa, and Jayasimha sūri, the Hammiramadamardana. Works of this category are known as composed by Naracandra sūri and Narendra-prabha sūri of the Harsapurīya-gaccha and by Harihara pandita and a few less known poets.
After the glorious period of Vastupāla, the sun of Jainism began to slide down. Only a few luminous figures are now known. From Jagacchandra sūri began the Tapāgaccha. His learned disciple Devendra sūri composed works on the karmapraksti and some hymns, just as his disciple Dharmaghoṣa sūri wrote a large number of hymns, few in Prakrit as well. The tradesman Jagadu Sāha of Kutch was engaged in social as well as temple building activity.
The final note must be taken of minister Prthvīdhara (Pethada Sāha) of Mālavadeśa who is said to have built about 84 temples in central, but most of them were in western India, a territory from which he in fact had hailed.
It is in the background of those great medieval times that the temples in Kumbhāriyā were founded.